Dalton Nuclear Institute
Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute is home to the most comprehensive nuclear research portfolio in UK academia.
Through our network of specialist labs, including five National Nuclear User Facilities, we are driving the future of nuclear energy, providing growing support to fusion and covering the whole fission fuel cycle.
Our pioneering nuclear research is divided between our on-site facilities in Manchester and our dedicated Dalton Cumbrian Facility.
The University‘s main campus hosts multiple specialist laboratories and facilities for fundamental and industry-focused nuclear research across the full fuel cycle. These facilities have a unique focus on work with authentic radioactive and nuclear materials, which is a distinctive feature of our portfolio.
We are part of:
- The National Nuclear User Facility, part of the government's Nuclear Industrial Strategy, enabling greater accessibility to highly innovative technologies as a collaborative effort.
- The EPSRC UK National Ion Beam Centre provides a single point of access for the UK research community to ion beam modification and analysis infrastructure and expertise.
- The Henry Royce Institute, the UK National Centre for Research and Innovation of Advanced Materials.
Our dedicated research base, the Dalton Cumbrian Facility, provides academia and industry the opportunity to carry out high-end research in radiation science and nuclear engineering decommissioning. Scientists can simulate several decades of in-service exposure in an operating environment, and produce important data for life time behaviour predictions and models. We host a variety of industry-leading equipment vital to UK nuclear research:
Our two accelerators, a 5-MV tandem and a 2.5-MV Pelletron, are configured to provide a range of ion irradiation and analysis capabilities across eight beam lines.
Our high dose rate gamma irradiator is designed and operated to support a wide range of research applications, with the aim of developing understanding of the mechanistic effects of gamma radiation on materials, systems and components.
Our Precision X-Ray Multi-Rad 350 irradiator is capable of dose rates up to 140 Gy/min (unfiltered beam), for experiments where lower energy photons are more applicable.
We provide fully equipped analytical and characterisation laboratories for a wide range of material examination, including pre- and post-irradiation.
The Robotics for Extreme Environments Lab (REEL) is based at the collaborative research facility RAICo1 in Whitehaven, Cumbria:
RAICo1 is a joint initiative developed by Sellafield Ltd and the NDA in partnership with The University of Manchester and the UKAEA. It brings together researchers from academia and industry to focus on robotics and AI solutions in nuclear facilities. Projects include:
- Mobile ground robots for exploration or routine inspection
- Characterisation methods as well as path planning and map generation
- Surface and submersible aquatic robots for inspection and maintenance
- Demonstration and testing spaces including a water tank with bespoke camera tracking systems
Our impact
The Dalton Nuclear Institute’s unparalleled network of facilities is a central hub for nuclear energy research and development. It provides advice and partnership support to industry and academic collaborations, and is a true driver of innovation.
Speak to our experts
Professor Katherine Morris
Professor of Environmental Radiochemistry and Environment and Waste Lead at Dalton Nuclear Institute
- Environmental Radiochemistry
- Effluent treatment
- Geological disposal of radioactive wastes
Professor Abbie Jones
Chair in Nuclear Graphite
- Nuclear graphite for use in current and future reactor systems including safety assessments, life extension and decommissioning of graphite moderated reactors
Dr Ed Pickering
Advanced Metals Processing
- Alloys and manufacturing processes used for nuclear fission and fusion power plant components
